By Todd Hatton/Paducah Sun
Paducah, KY – As part of the U-S Postal Service's efforts to honor the contributions of African Americans, pioneering filmmaker and Metropolis, Illinois native Oscar Micheaux is featured on his own postage stamp.
Beginning in 1918, Micheaux produced films portraying black characters without the stereotypes seen in early Hollywood, showing them as people of intelligence and integrity. His films advocated hard work and education while condemning racism and crime. The Paducah Sun reports in all, Micheaux produced 44 films, 22 silent and 22 with sound. Only 15 complete films have survived. Micheaux also wrote seven novels, three of which remain in print.
U-S-P-S spokesman David Walton says the stamp is the 33rd in the Black Heritage Series.